The Alliance has lodged an unfair dismissal claim with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in relation to the sacking of Wes Young - a cadet journalist employed at The Examiner. Management has claimed that the termination was a result of Wes tendering his resignation. However, Mr Young denies that it was ever his intention to tender his resignation from The Examiner and maintains that he had simply been trying to negotiate a transfer of his employment from The Examiner to The Advocate (both controlled by Rural Press).

Despite our repeated requests, management has been unable to provide any proof whatsoever in support of the claim that Mr Young tendered his resignation.

Moreover, the company has been unable or unwilling to offer any valid reason why Wes should not be permitted to continue working at the paper, despite Mr Young’s willingness to continue work and the support of some 20 senior editorial staff employed at The Examiner who have signed a letter calling on the company to continue to employ him.

Last Friday, the Alliance sought an order preventing The Examiner from proceeding with the termination. The Commission was reluctant to issue any such orders in light of the potential legal complexities associated with doing so. Also from the close of business that day, the Alliance could initiate proceedings for unfair dismissal.

When Mr Young returned to the Examiner after the hearing his authority to access the editorial department had been removed.  He was left standing in the newsroom atrium, in full view of bewildered Examiner editorial staff, unable to enter his workplace.

What YOU can do

In addition to lodging the unfair dismissal claim, the Alliance will be putting considerable pressure on the company to do the right thing and continue to employ Mr Young.
We encourage Alliance members, Mr Young’s industry colleagues and members of the public to contact The Examiner and Rural Press and urge them to put him back on the payroll.

Email The Examiner’s editor Dean Southwell (editor@examiner.com.au) and Rural Press Managing Director & CEO Brian McCarthy (follow the link http://www.ruralpress.com/corp/contact.asp)

You can follow the story and view all correspondence at Tasmanian Times:
http://www.tasmaniantimes.com/  (Cadet v The Examiner)

For further information contact Andrew Muthy on 03 6234 1622 or email: andrew.muthy@alliance.org.au